Warning: This article includes SPOILERS for Doctor Who season 15’s finale!
After two years as the Fifteenth Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa has stepped away from Doctor Who, but fans can look back at his fifteen best moments as a part of the beloved franchise. Any Doctor starting a new era has high expectations to fulfill. For Classic Who, William Harnell needed to convince viewers to invest in the show. For Revival Who, Christopher Eccleston had to ensure Classic Who fans would give a chance to RTD’s interpretation of Who. With Modern Who, Ncuti Gatwa needed to appeal to the existing fanbase while also welcoming a wider audience after Doctor Who’s Disney+ deal.
Like most Doctors, Gatwa’s run as the Doctor had a rocky start, but the actor quickly established his version of the character. The Fifteenth Doctor is lively, lighthearted, and emotionally expressive. They enjoy laughing and joking around with their companions. Doctor Who season 15 was even better than season 14, featuring better writing, a more interesting companion, and more sides of Fifteen. Sadly, Ncuti Gatwa exited the show after just two seasons, bidding Doctor Who fans farewell in an emotional video. In honor of the Fifteenth Doctor’s departure, here are the fifteen best Ncuti Gatwa moments.
15
Fifteen’s Reaction At The End Of “Dot & Bubble”
Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 5, “Dot & Bubble”
The first scene that Ncuti Gatwa filmed as the Fifteenth Doctor after the 60th Anniversary special is the end of “Dot & Bubble.” Many Whovians have expressed this scene as the best moment of Gatwa’s first season, and I agree.
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In a matter of a four-minute scene, Gatwa displays hope, love, sadness, and desperation. It’s fitting for the character that the Doctor isn’t angry at them for their prejudices. All the character wants is to save the Finetimers, but they’re too stuck in their racism to accept help from the Doctor.
14
The Fifteenth Doctor Defeats Lux Imperator
Doctor Who Season 15, Episode 2, “Lux”
The Doctor’s relationship with pacifism is dubious, at best, but “Lux” is a great example of the Fifteenth Doctor defeating an enemy without unnecessary violence. Fifteen figures out, in one of their cleverest moments, that they can defeat Lux Imperator by giving the Pantheon god exactly what he wants – light. The idea of minimizing the threat by letting Lux stay alive and be one with the universe is a great moment of empathy from the Fifteenth Doctor.
13
Fifteen & Fourteen Discuss Their Losses
Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special, “The Giggle”
Ncuti Gatwa’s introduction as the Fifteenth Doctor is smack in the middle of an action scene with the Toymaker, so the audience is thrown immediately into who they are in a battle. However, a more defining moment is what happens after. Fifteen talks to Fourteen about everyone they’ve lost.
It’s a very earnest and heavy moment that’s reflective of the character’s later personality. Fifteen bounces back and forth between being jovial and having sad moments. It also makes it clear that the Fifteenth Doctor carries the weight of their losses, even if they say that they’re rehabilitated.
12
Rogue & The Fifteenth Doctor’s Short-Lived Relationship
Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 6, “Rogue”
Doctor Who has a long history of LGBTQ+ representation, and that came into play in the season 14 episode “Rogue.” The Fifteenth Doctor has a short-lived romance with a bounty hunter named Rogue, played by Jonathan Groff.
The chemistry between Ncuti Gatwa and Jonathan Groff is absolutely electric, providing viewers with so many fantastic moments that the entire episode must be included as one of Gatwa’s best moments. With Gatwa leaving Doctor Who, I’m grateful they brought Rogue back for a cameo in a penultimate moment.
11
Fifteen Singing To The Goblins
Doctor Who 2023 Christmas Special, “The Church On Ruby Road”
Musical numbers are a treasured part of the sci-fi show, and the Doctor Who website even breaks down the most iconic musical numbers. Ncuti Gatwa’s first musical number is the Goblin Song, where they sing about eating a baby. Luckily, the show gives Fifteen the chance to respond in song.
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The moment is hilarious, whimsical, and a clever way to get out of the situation. Although the Fifteenth Doctor is the one in the situation, I could easily see the Third Doctor and Eleventh Doctor joining in on the musical number. It’s a great throughline that so many Doctors love music.
10
Anita & Fifteen’s Friendship Montage
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas Special, “Joy To The World”
The 2024 Christmas special tried too hard to be saccharinely sweet, laying it on thick at times. However, the episode does include a genuinely moving part, which is Anita and Fifteen’s “chair days.” The montage shows the Doctor letting their guard down after leaving Ruby, and Anita starting to believe that she deserves companionship.
When they finally part ways, both seem truly devastated to part ways. The montage is a beautiful moment of character development and impeccable acting from both Ncuti Gatwa and Steph de Whalley.
9
Fifteen Tells Thirteen, “I Love You”
Doctor Who Season 15, Episode 8, “The Reality War”
The final episode of Ncuti Gatwa’s reign as the Doctor brings back many Doctor Who characters, including the Thirteenth Doctor. Thirteen helps the Fifteenth Doctor as the regeneration is approaching. Right as Thirteen leaves to return to their time, Fifteen says, “I love you.” Even though I’m unconvinced that Fifteen was ever truly rehabilitated, this moment does feel especially self-actualized.
Gatwa’s Doctor is expressive towards strangers. However, them saying I love you to another regeneration of themselves feels like self-love and acceptance, traits that aren’t shown often during the Fifteenth Doctor’s two seasons.
8
Fifteen Meets The Whovians
Doctor Who Season 15, Episode 2, “Lux”
Many Whovians took offense at “Lux” poking fun at the fandom with the meta scene where the Doctor meets a group of fans. However, I think the interaction is hilarious, and it’s one of Ncuti Gatwa’s best moments. The Fifteenth Doctor visibly goes through a range of emotions, from confusion to disbelief, but they still accept this admittedly bizarre situation. The Doctor has been through all sorts of strange circumstances, and them having a cuppa and discussing adventures with fans feels appropriate.
7
The Fifteenth Doctor Sees Susan
Doctor Who Season 15, Episode 6, “The Interstellar Song Contest”
After a long wait, Doctor Who finally brought back Susan, the Doctor’s granddaughter and first companion. While Carole Ann Ford is the biggest appeal of this moment, it’s also great to see the way Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor interacts with the visions of Susan. It feels like she’s Fifteen’s conscience and voice of reason, which the character accepts even though they’re not certain if the visions are real.
6
The Fifteenth Doctor Takes The Spoon
Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 8, “Empire of Death”
The ending of Doctor Who season 14 is divisive among fans, but the finale does include a particularly moving moment. When Fifteen feels like all hope is lost, they come across a stranger who is willing to sacrifice their spoon.
Even though Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor crying occasionally feels forced, this is one of the moments where it feels like it has come from a raw and true place. On top of offering Fifteen hope, the spoon is a painful reminder of the character’s pacifism, which has long been abandoned.
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